Recent Research Contradicts Theoretical Assumptions about the Transfer of Light Energy.

A recent study published in The Journal of Organic Chemistry challenges a long-standing theory regarding the transfer of light energy. When light interacts with matter, such as sunlight hitting the Earth’s surface, it is primarily absorbed and converted into heat. However, there are instances where the energy of light is transferred between molecular structures. This occurs when an excited pigment transfers its energy to another pigment, as seen in photosynthesis.

For the past 70 years, physical chemist Theodor Förster proposed a theory called Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to explain this energy transfer process. According to FRET, the light energy is transferred without radiation through resonance using small molecular dipole antennas, which are electromagnetic interactions.

However, Prof. Heinz Langhals, a chemist from LMU, has conducted experiments that contradict this theory. Through the synthesis of test molecules, his findings demonstrate that the energy transfer actually occurs through molecular vibrations. This can be likened to how vibrations from a grand piano on a stage floor can be carried to a cello standing on the platform. Importantly, this process can even occur at the nano scale, making it particularly intriguing for advancements in optical technologies.

This article is republished from PhysORG under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.